Poster
ca. 1990 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In Iran, religious posters are commonly displayed in homes, workplaces and religious buildings. This poster depicts Imam Husayn with his son Ali al- Asghar at the Battle of Karbala in 680AD.
The majority of Iran’s population are Shi'ia Muslims. The Shi’ite sect began in the 650s, when Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and Husayn’s father became Caliph (leader of the Muslim people). The supporters of Ali became known as the Shiites, which means "the followers of Ali”. However Muhammad had not named his successor and the years following his death were marked with rival claims to power. In 680 the rival Umayyad Caliph killed Husayn, along with most of his male family and followers at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq. Shi'ites consider Husayn a martyr and mark his death every year during the month of Muharram.
In this poster Husayn is shown, shortly before his own death, holding his son who has been shot with an arrow by the rival army. Posters like this are designed to have an emotional impact on the viewer and remind Shi'ites of Husayn's martydom.
The majority of Iran’s population are Shi'ia Muslims. The Shi’ite sect began in the 650s, when Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and Husayn’s father became Caliph (leader of the Muslim people). The supporters of Ali became known as the Shiites, which means "the followers of Ali”. However Muhammad had not named his successor and the years following his death were marked with rival claims to power. In 680 the rival Umayyad Caliph killed Husayn, along with most of his male family and followers at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq. Shi'ites consider Husayn a martyr and mark his death every year during the month of Muharram.
In this poster Husayn is shown, shortly before his own death, holding his son who has been shot with an arrow by the rival army. Posters like this are designed to have an emotional impact on the viewer and remind Shi'ites of Husayn's martydom.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Paper with printed design in coloured ink |
| Brief description | Poster, paper printed in coloured ink, Husayn holding Ali al-Asghar, Iran, ca. 1990. |
| Physical description | Poster, paper printed in coloured inks. Portrait of Husayn holding Ali al-Asghar in an oval frame. Husayn is wearing a green head covering and green robe, with brown leather chest armour; the hilt of a sword is visible at his left side. He is crying and holding his baby son Ali al-Asghar, who is wearing a white head covering and a white robe. Ali al-Asghar's throat is pierced by an arrow and blood is pouring out of the wound, a single tear falls from his closed eyes. Two colourful birds are flying round Husayn's head and a third around his middle. The frame is set against an ornate green and blue patterned background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Given by Dr Patricia L. Baker |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In Iran, religious posters are commonly displayed in homes, workplaces and religious buildings. This poster depicts Imam Husayn with his son Ali al- Asghar at the Battle of Karbala in 680AD. The majority of Iran’s population are Shi'ia Muslims. The Shi’ite sect began in the 650s, when Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and Husayn’s father became Caliph (leader of the Muslim people). The supporters of Ali became known as the Shiites, which means "the followers of Ali”. However Muhammad had not named his successor and the years following his death were marked with rival claims to power. In 680 the rival Umayyad Caliph killed Husayn, along with most of his male family and followers at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq. Shi'ites consider Husayn a martyr and mark his death every year during the month of Muharram. In this poster Husayn is shown, shortly before his own death, holding his son who has been shot with an arrow by the rival army. Posters like this are designed to have an emotional impact on the viewer and remind Shi'ites of Husayn's martydom. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | ME.12-2011 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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